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===== Getting Started =====

FIXME  Check and update all downloads. Clean up lists.

Current Stable Release: 

  * **OpenCPN 5.6.2 Maintenance Release April 22, 2022**

Read the Update Summaries.
 
  * OpenCPN 5.5.9 released on October 2, 2021.
  * OpenCPN 5.2.4 released on October 18, 2020. Bug Fix, Graphical & UI Improvements.
  * [[https://opencpn.org/OpenCPN/about/ver520.html|OpenCPN 5.2.0 Summary]] released on July 15 , 2020. 
  * [[https://opencpn.org/OpenCPN/about/ver500.html|OpenCPN 5.0.0 Summary]]  released on March 23, 2019.

Other Resources

  * {{:opencpn:manual:opencpn_version_5.0.0-changelog.epub|Epub Book - Summary}} New features.
  * {{:opencpn:manual:exploring_opencpn_v4_.pdf|Exploring OpenCPN (v4)}} Required reading YachtValhalla's PDF Tutorial for the new user.
  * [[http://www.mediafire.com/file/8a0wr8e53ddrh95/Exploring+OpenCPN+%28v4%29.pdf|Exploring OpenCPN (v4)]] PDF Tutorial for the new user.
  * [[http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f134/|Cruisers Forum.]] For help from a large community of Users
  * [[:opencpn:dev_manual|Developers Manual]] For Advanced users with programming experience

==== User Manual Download ====

   * [[https://download.opencpn.org/s/n8RHSXfYjkZQYb5|OpenCPN-4.8.2.7z (doc482.7z) 20mb]] HTML. Uncompress and use Browser.
   * [[https://download.opencpn.org/s/i9LNRHjJmSjAjSC|OpenCPN-4-8-6-Sept-18-18-compress-lossy-2-70pc.epub mb (16mb)]] Epub Book Reader likr  Calibre Reader or Firefox Epub Extension.
   * [[https://download.opencpn.org/s/APBoNkTPeyGFopC|OpenCPN-4-8-6-Sept-18-18-medium-compressed.pdf (25mb)]] PDF OpenCPN User Manual Download
   * [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.opencpn.opencpnusermanual&hl=en|Android OpenCPN User Manual App by David Register]]  from Google Playstore. It has an embedded eBook reader. 
 
Another technique is to use [[https://www.httrack.com/|HTTrack Website Copier]] and download/mirror the html help files. Download it and make mirror a copy of the current manual to your computer. Don't forget too add filters so that file links are not downloaded!
See [[https://www.httrack.com/html/faq.html#Q1b1|FAQ]]  For example, add file filters for -*.zip, -*.7z and any other linked files you do not want downloaded.


==== Next Steps ====

**Getting started using OpenCPN consists of 4 basic steps:**

  * [[:opencpn:manual_basic:get_started:installation|Installation Guide]] to installing OpenCPN on your particular OS and computer.
  * [[opencpn:manual_basic:get_started:chart_install|Chart Installation]] Three alternatives.
  * [[:opencpn:manual_basic:get_started:gps|GPS Setup]] to communicate location to OpenCPN (Optional, but very useful)
  * [[opencpn:manual_basic:user_interface|User Interface]]

